New York Times on the Web Forums Science

Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

cantabb - 09:10pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16971 of 16986)

wrcooper - 06:47pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16943 of 16944) to klsanford0

Cantabb's posts dealt almost exclusively with criticisms of rswowalter's off-topic or loony posts or lchic's off-topic posts, so they, too, had nothing to do with missile defense.

Having watched the interminable exchanges on this forum dealing with personal and other topics far removed from MD, I was NOT interested in following the same futile route and my very first post (Sept 17) stated my impressions and suggestions. This elicited a barrage of comments which I have addressed in the past 7 weeks, besides some running battles with regulars like fredmoore, gisterme, lchic/rshow and yourself.

My posts are not required reading, and with due respect, I couldn't care less if you read or "ignore" me. But what surprises me is the need for you to offer reasons for your personal preference. NOT really my concern, except for what seem to be your conflicting reasons:

Earlier on you offered this, which seems different from your position now (quoted above)

wrcooper - 10:53pm Oct 6, 2003 EST (# 14493 of 16962)

cantab

I set you to "Ignore" because I tired of your constant battles with other posters over perceived insults. You should ask yourself why you so often get into flame wars with other posters. You often do post on-topic posts, which I've found informative, but more often than not of late your posts have devolved into prickly attacks against what you deem personal attacks against you. It became tiresome to me.

Obviously, your reaction as an observer is going to be much different from me, the subject of the comments.

However you feel comfortable, do whst you feel you must-- NOT really my concern.

cantabb - 09:25pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16972 of 16986)

lchic - 08:24pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16968 of 16971)

Cantabb - how will the democratisation of women in the Middle East lead to a more stable world - lessening the threat of chaos, breakdown and nuclear attack? Think about it and get back to us!

A LOT of issues there, BUT Nothing to do with MD, To you, I know, almost everything is or can be made MD-relevant !

lchic - 08:27pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16969 of 16971)

Cantabb - why is important to understand the way other cultures think?

I've an interest in that for various reasons, but anything to do with MD?

Why did Eisenhower want Showalter to look at the problem of 'talking, negotiating, linking in with the Russians. Why was that important?

YOU mean he couldn't find anyone else some 40 years ago, except a young rshow. And you, obviously, believe it. I've seen no credible independent evidence on any of this, but you've have your own reasons to believe.

Where did nuclear weapons lie then, and where know - is this an unknown known?

You tell us, or have a declassified/debriefed rshow tell us, so that we can examine.

If it's an unknown known - then, in the light of that, how best can the 'advanced economy countries' ensure their own immediate and longer term safety?

You may want to talk to Rummy.

Think about it and get back to us later!

Wasn't much there to think about, bt pls. don't go by my evaluation.

klsanford0 - 09:31pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16973 of 16986)

The weirdest Forum on NYT rolls on...lchic on a frenzy of mindless posting....she must have been at it all day....some form of "revenge" for dissing of her "Master", plus fact of the end of the Forum soon..? Some psychological need to post all this garbage...

klsanford0 - 09:33pm Nov 8, 2003 EST (# 16974 of 16986)

Looking on the positive side, end of this Forum also means end of fredmoore, as worthless as the rshow/lchic team...

(12 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense